Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny in stand-by mode. In active mode, the arms meet so that the Automatic Nanny can rock the baby to sleep without the need for a cradle or even a blanket.
Dacey tried imparting his philosophy of child-rearing to a series of nannies for his son Lionel, but none of them met his standards. He decided to build his own nanny, using the latest technology of the time. He patented his invention in 1892, and marketed it as a revolutionary product that would liberate parents from the drudgery of childcare. He also used it to raise his own son, hoping to prove its effectiveness.
However, Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny was not a success. It faced public criticism and legal challenges from various groups, who argued that it was unnatural, unethical, and potentially dangerous. Some parents who bought the machine reported malfunctions, injuries, and even deaths. Dacey defended his invention, claiming that these were isolated incidents caused by improper use or sabotage. He insisted that his machine was safe and superior to human nannies.
But the most damning evidence against Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny came from his own son. Lionel Dacey grew up to be a brilliant but emotionally stunted man, who had difficulty relating to other people. He seemed to prefer the company of machines, especially his childhood nanny. He became obsessed with improving it, and eventually adopted an infant to raise with it. The result was Edmund Dacey, a boy who could only communicate with machines, and not humans.
Edmund's condition was discovered when he was taken away from Lionel by the authorities, who deemed him an unfit father. Edmund was placed in an institution, where he was diagnosed with a form of autism. The staff initially thought that he was cognitively delayed, but they soon realized that he had a different way of thinking and learning. He showed remarkable aptitude for mathematics, engineering, and programming. He also displayed a strong attachment to his automatic nanny, which was brought to the institution as well.
Edmund's case sparked a debate about the role of technology in child development. Some argued that Edmund was a victim of neglect and abuse, and that his automatic nanny had deprived him of human contact and empathy. Others suggested that Edmund was a genius who had transcended the limitations of human communication, and that his automatic nanny had nurtured his unique talents and potential.
The debate remains unresolved to this day. Edmund Dacey died in 1947, at the age of 25, from a brain tumor. His automatic nanny was donated to the Museum of Childhood in London, where it is displayed as part of an exhibit titled "Little Defective Adults - Attitudes Toward Children 1700 to 1950". The exhibit aims to show how children were often treated as objects or experiments by adults, who imposed their own views and expectations on them.
Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny is one of the most controversial and fascinating artifacts in the exhibit. It raises questions about the nature and nurture of intelligence, the ethics and effects of automation, and the meaning and value of human connection.
Sources:
Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny - Wikipedia
How do we connect a child to technology? TechCrunch
Ted Chiang - What's Expected of Us and Other - Yumpu
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